Socket wrench



2,947,209: SOCKET WRENCH Charles Kostka, Bronx, N.Y. (4 Dock St., MountVernon, N.Y.-)

Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 727,572

4 Claims, (Cl. SIP-5.8.3)

a. :gealless, strip-proof, clutch wrench in which theori- .gagement anddisengagement of the, clutching parts are effected by axial engagementwith and disengagement from one another.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a gear less,strip-proof, clutch wrench in which the clutch parts are arranged; sothat one of the parts can be hand turned free of the other for initialtightening and final loosening of the bolt or nut and without moving thewrench from the bolt or nut.

It is a further object of the invention to provide agearless,strip-proof, clutch wrench in which the coupling parts are automaticallydisengaged from one another as axial pressure is removed from the wrenchin order to effect the clutch action thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a gearless, strip-proof,clutch wrench, having the above objects in mind, which is of simpleconstruction, has a minimum number of parts, inexpensive to manufacture,easily and quickly connected to the socket extensions and like parts,compact, durable, efiective and eflicient in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the ge'arless,stripproof, clutch wrench constructed according to one form of theinvention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wrench with portionsbroken away to show the interior construction thereof, 7

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, r

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a gearless, strip-proof,

clutch wrench constructed according to another form of.

the invention with portions broken away to show the interiorconstruction thereof,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7-7 V of Fig. 5. IReferring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, 10 represents a sleeve body,in one end of which is fitted a plug,

2,947,209 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 [ice has ahexagonal head 20 that isrotatable within the sleeve 10 and is adapted to be engaged by a socketclutching part 21 having a socket opening 22 which accommodates thehexagonal head when the socket part 21 is axially moved for engagementtherewith. The hexagonal 'head 20 bears upon a wear washer 23 and isheld in engagement therewith by a set collar 24 having a set screw 25.

The clutching or coupling drive part 19 has a squared end .26 with aball detent 27 adapted for engagement with a standard wrench socket.

The socket 2 1 is fixed by means of set screws 28 to a squared end 30 ofan axially removable drive shaft part 31', slidable and journalled inthe plug 11. This shaft part 31 has a knurled knob 32 and a socketformation 3-3. The shaft part 31 is normally retained so that the socket21 is disengaged from the head 20 by a compression spring 34 thatsurrounds the shaft part 31 and reacts between the plug 11 and knob 32.Automatically, as pressure is released from the shaft 31, the spring 34disengages the socket 22 from the head 20 to permit the clutching of thesocket 21 with respect to the head 20 of the coupling part 19. Aspressure is again applied to the shaft part 31, automatic engagementwith the head 20 is effected for the next turn. The socket opening 22has twelve side edges to provide minimum clutch turning action. Sleeve10 has elongated clean out openings 35 which not only serveto permit theeasy removal of dirt and the washing out Of the sleeve but also permitsthe operating parts to "be observed.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is shown the otherform of the invention in which the coupling parts are coupled with oneanother by means ing similarly-spaced openings on the other part. Asleeve 40 has an inwardly turned flange 41 with a journal open- 7 ing 42therein. A clutching or coupling part 43 is journalled in the opening 42and has an enlarged head 44 and a shoulder. 45, the latter of whichengages the inner face of the flange 41 and is held against inward axialdisplacement therefrom by'a set collar 46 secured to the coupling part43 by set screw 47. This coupling part 43 has a squared end 48 and aball detent 49 adapted to detachably receive an extension or wrenchsocket.

The head 44 of the coupling part 43 has a plurality of holes 50countersunk on their inner faces and circumferenti-ally-spaced from oneanother, these holes-50 are penetrated by similarly-spaced engaging pins51 projecting from a retaining head '52 having a square central opening53 for drivingly receiving a squared end 54 of a drive shaft 55journ-alled in a plug 58 centered and 2 secured to the end of thesleeve. 49 and by an alignment a by a compression spring 64 that reactsbetween the plug 58 and the knurled knob 62. As pressure is applied tothe shaft 55 the pins 51 will enter and interlock with the countersunkopenings 50 of the head 44 to provide a temporary drive connectiontherebetween so that the coupled parts turn together as a solid unit.The sleeve 40 ment of screw openings 15 when fixing said sleeve 10 to Ia central opening 18 in which a headed clutching or 70 coupling drivepart 19 is journalled. This drive part 19 has openings 65 through whichdirt can be Washed and the parts observed.

. Any number of pins can be used in different space relationship withreference to each other and these pins may be of any length or sizedesired sufficient for heavy duty work. Once these pins are interlockedwith the openings a positive connection is thereby made and they cannotslip or be stripped. 7

It will also be apparent that this clutch action has been effectedwithout need of gears and yet has the same clutch action as can beeffected with a gear type clutch.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shallbe understoodthat such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe presentinvention as defined by the appended claims. r

-- What is claimed is: t 1 1 1. A socket wrench having an axiallyshiftable clutch mechanism comprising an outer sleeve, said sleevehaving journal openings in the opposite ends thereof, couplingparts-journalled in the'opposite ends of the sleeve and adapted to beengaged with one another by axial adjustment of one of said partsrelative to the other, ,said sleeve having a removable plug connectedthereto and having a journal opening at that end of the sleeve, one

of said coupling parts being journalled in the plug and having a knurledturning knob thereon by which hand turning can be effected and a springon said coupling part reacting between the plug and the knurledknob.

2. A socket wrench having an axially shiftable clutch mechanismcomprising an outer sleeve, said sleeve having journal openings in theopposite ends thereof, coupling parts journalled in the opposite ends ofthe sleeve and adapted to be engaged with one another by axialadjustment of one of said parts relative to the other, and one of saidcoupling parts having a polygonal head formation lying within thesleeve, and the other of said coupling parts being axially alignedtherewith and having a cooperating socket opening with twice the numberof sides of the polygonal head formation for permitting minimum turningof the polygonal head, and a set collar on said part having saidpolygonal head adapted to be secured thereto to hold the part in thesleeve against inward axial displacement.

3. A socket wrench having an axially shiftable-clutch mechanismcomprising an outer sleeve, said sleeve having journal openings in theopposite ends thereof, coupling parts journalled in the opposite ends ofthe sleeve and adapted to be engaged with one another by axialadjustment of one of said parts relative to the other, and said sleevehaving a removable plug on one end thereof and said other part beingjournalled in said plug.

4. A socket wrench having an axially shiftable clutch mechanismcomprising an outer sleeve, said sleeve having journal openings in theopposite ends thereof, coupling parts journalled in the opposite ends ofthe sleeve and adapted to beengaged with one another by axial adjustmentof one of said parts relative to the other, and one of said couplingparts having a head with a plurality of circumferentially-spacedlongitudinally-extending holes and said other part having a head with acorresponding number of similarly-spaced coupling pins adapted to enterand interlock with said holes in the head of ,the

one coupling part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceAug. 11,1925

